INTRODUCTION

In February 2009, TNH Consulting of Rockaway, NJ, reported on a limited survey of vertebrate and some invertebrate species in Mountain Lakes Borough actually observed or evidence found in Mountain Lakes Borough.  They also provided the following list of all the vertebrate species -- fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds, and mammals -- known to occur historically or currently in the town, as well as a list of invertebrate butterflies and odonates.  This information was compiled from database searches, a few state sources, and unpublished material.

The original report, available from the Environmental Commission, contains numerous photos and references supporting these results.

INVERTEBRATES

Ninety-eight percent of all animal species on the planet are invertebrates: a perhaps uncountable and bewildering array of insects, corals, mollusks, hydras, jellyfish, sea stars, crustaceans, arachnids, worms, and other forms which don't seem to fit in any evolutionary or taxonomic pigeonhole. By themselves, the beetles constitute over 350,000 species, a huge number and diversity that astounded Darwin and later biologists, who have puzzled over beetles' species abundance for over a century, without producing a satisfactory explanation. There are many thousands of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate species in Mountain Lakes, the presence of which can denote all kinds of environmental factors, positive and negative. Documenting even a small majority of them would be a study of years or even decades. Listed below are two groups, butterflies and odonates (dragonflies and damselflies), which have received a great deal of study in recent decades. Most of them are indicative of the habitats present in the borough, as well as the general condition of those habitats.

Butterflies

The following list of species was culled from the records of TNC. Although, with a few exceptions, no published butterfly records exist for Mountain Lakes, those listed below have occurred from 1998 through 2008 in Parsippany, Boonton Township, and Denville Township, in habitats similar to those present in the borough.

Most butterflies are highly dependent on ?food plants?, usually a species or genera of a particular plant, such as milkweed, that their caterpillars feed upon exclusively before they transform into adults. If these plants are absent in an area, their associate butterflies -- with the exception of migrant species such as Monarch -- will also be absent. Nectar sources for adult butterflies are more varied.

Numbers of many butterfly species have declined greatly in recent decades due to habitat loss and indiscriminate pesticide use. Low butterfly diversity is usually indicative of overdevelopment and indiscriminate pesticide spraying over a long period.

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Black Swallowtail	Papilio polyxenes	None.	Possible; occasionally seen in the fields surrounding the Tourne county park.	Uncommon in this area of New Jersey
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail	Papilio glaucus	None.	Known to occur in the borough. A common late spring and summer species in backyards and parks in northern New Jersey.	Food plants are cherry species and tulip tree, both common in the borough.
Spicebush Swallowtail	Papilio troilus	None.	Seen during 2008 in woods around the YMCA; doubtless common in yards and woods throughout the borough in late spring and summer.	Food plants are spicebush and, to a lesser extent in this area, sassafras.
Cabbage White	Pieris rapae	None.	Seen in 2008 around the YMCA parking lot. Probably abundant in yards and fields throughout the borough.	Introduced from Europe.
Clouded Sulphur	Colias philodice	None.	Probable. Common in fields in surrounding towns.	Food plant is white clover.
Orange Sulphur	Colias eurytheme	None.	Probable. Commonly present in yards and fields in surround towns.	Food plant alfalfa, vetch species, and other members of the bean (Fabaceae) family, which includes the clovers.
Cloudless Sulphur	Phoebis sennae	None.	Seen in September, 2002 flying around the YMCA parking lot.	This late-summer migrant from the South is rare in northern New Jersey.
American Copper	Lycaena phlaeas	None.	Possible. Seen occasionally in Denville, in fields around the Tourne.	Food plant is dock (Rumex sp.).
Banded Hairstreak	Satyrium calanus	None.	Possible. Seen occasionally in surrounding towns in fields with stands of milkweed.	Food plants are oaks and hickories.
White M Hairstreak	Parrhasius m-album	None.	Possible. Seen occasionally around the summit of The Tourne in Boonton Township.	A rather rare butterfly in this area. Food plant is oaks.
Eastern Tailed Blue	Everes comyntas	None.	Probable. Fairly common in the surrounding towns in yards, fields, and other open areas.	Food plants are species in the pea family.
Spring Azure	Celastrina ladon	None.	Probable. Common in spring and summer in surrounding towns, in woods, fields, swamps, and suburban yards.	Very diverse food plants. The very similar Summer Azure has been split off from this species.
Great Spangled Fritillary	Speyeria cybele	None.	Seen occasionally flying around The Boulevard and near the YMCA parking lot. This spectacular midsummer butterfly is fairly common in surrounding towns in fields, yards, and roadsides.	Food plant is violets.
Meadow Fritillary	Boloria bellona	None.	Possible. Fairly common in surrounding towns in damp fields. A population is present in the fields across from St. Clair's Hospital in Denville.	Food plant is violets.
Pearl Crescent	Phyciodes tharos	None.	Possible. Fairly common in surrounding towns, in fields and wet meadows.	Food plant is asters.
Question Mark	Polygonia interrogationis	None.	Possible. Seen occasionally in the Tourne in Denville and Boonton Townships.	Food plants are nettles, elm, and hackberry.
Compton Tortoiseshell	Nymphalis vau-album	None.	Seen around the wood edges in back of the YMCA in 1998 and 2006. Probable in Wilcox Park. Fairly common in oak woods at the adjacent Tourne in Boonton Township.	An uncommon species whose food plants are birches and willows. Overwinters as an adult, and may be seen on warm days in winter and early spring.
Mourning Cloak	Nymphalis antiopa	None.	Seen on a balmy February day in 1998 at the YMCA parking lot. Present in surrounding towns in wooded and roadside habitats.	Food plants are willows and a variety of other shrubs.
American Lady	Vanessa virginiensis	None.	Possible. Locally common in fields and roadsides in surrounding towns.	Food plants are pearly everlasting and a variety of other composites.
Painted Lady	Vanessa cardui	None.	Possible. Seen once in fields near the Tourne, in Denville.	A rather rare migrant from the south. Food plant is thistles, and a variety of other species.
Red Admiral	Vanessa atlanta	None.	Probable. Fairly common in some years during late spring and summer in the surrounding towns in suburban, field, and wooded edge habitats.	Food plant is nettles.
Common Buckeye	Junonia coenia	None.	Possible. Occasional in the surrounding towns, in dry open fields.	Migrant from the south; food plants include plantains.
Red-spotted Purple	Limenitis arthemis astyanax	None.	Possible. Occasional in woodlands in surrounding towns.
Viceroy	Limenitis archippus	None.	Possible. Seen occasionally in fields and streamsides around the Tourne.	Food plant is willows.
Appalachian Brown	Satyrodes appalachia	None.	Possible. Seen in woods adjacent to Wilcox Park in the Tourne.	Food plant is sedges.
Little Wood Satyr	Megisto cymela	None.	Probable. Fairly common on wooded edges in the surrounding towns.	Food plants are grass species.
Common Wood Nymph	Cercyonis pegala	None.	Possible. Occasional in wooded ecotones, fields and other habitats in surrounding towns.	Food plants are a variety of grass species.
Monarch	Danaus plexippus	None.	Seen in summer and fall in several spots in the borough. Doubtless fairly common in late summer and fall migration.	Food plant is milkweeds. Except for some weedy field habitat in Halsey Frederick Park and near Borough Hall, very little milkweed grows in the town, and breeding and egg-laying Monarchs are probably not common.
Silver-spotted Skipper	Epargyreus clarus	None.	Probable. Fairly common in the surrounding towns in fields and yards with flowering plants such as butterfly bush, coneflower, and other composites.	Food plant is black locust.
Northern Cloudywing	Thorybes pylades	None.	Probable. Commonly occurs in the surrounding towns in open areas.	Food plants are legumes such as clovers.
Juvenal's Duskywing	Erynnis juvenalis	None.	Probable. Fairly common in surrounding towns in oak woods.	Food plant is oaks.
Wild Indigo Duskywing	Erynnis baptisiae	None.	Probable. Common in Denville and Parsippany along roadsides where crown vetch is planted.	Food plants are crown vetch and wild indigo.
Least Skipper	Ancyloxypha numitor	None.	Probable. Occasionally common along wet roadside ditches and in meadows in Parsippany.	Food plants are grasses.
European Skipper	Thymelicus lineola	None.	Probable. Common in fields in surrounding towns.	Food plant is timothy, a grass.
Peck's Skipper	Polites peckius	None.	Probable. Common in late summer in open grassy areas in the surrounding towns.	Food plants are grass species.

Odonates: Dragonflies and Damselflies

More than "just insects", dragonflies and damselflies are superbly-adapted fliers that can rival and surpass the aerobatics of birds; and they predate the birds in the fossil record by at least a hundred and fifty million years. Sometimes called the "most elegant creatures in the class Insecta", dragonfly motifs appear in the art and artifacts of many cultures.

The group is also a very good indicator water quality, as part of its life cycle is aquatic. Areas with polluted water will have few or no odonates, and vice versa. Widespread study of this group is relatively recent, but certain areas of New Jersey are known to have remarkable odonate species diversity, particularly in parts of Morris and Sussex Counties. Dragonfly adults and nymphs consume large numbers of mosquitoes, and are important in mosquito control. Many more species occur in Mountain Lakes than are listed below.

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Ebony Jewelwing	Colopteryx maculata	None.	Seen in past years along Troy Brook near Intervale Road. Common on the Rockaway River in Denville and Boonton Township.
Common Bluet	Enallagma cyathigerum	None.	Seen fairly recently along the shores of Mountain and Birchwood Lakes.
Lateral Bluet	Enallagma laterale	Heritage Program rank S1S2, threatened/endangered.	Several individuals of this rare bluet damselfly were found in May, 2008 at the north end of Birchwood Lake.
Common Green Darner	Anax junius	None.	Seen in recent years on Birchwood, Mountain, and Crystal Lakes.	One of the larger darners, and migratory in late summer.
Comet Darner	Anax longipes	Heritage Program rank S2S3, rare-threatened.	One was seen flying around Birchwood Lake in late August, 2008.	Uncommon throughout its range.
Dragonhunter	Hagenius brevistylus	Heritage Program rank S3S4, rare-uncommon.	Seen at Mountain Lake in 1998.	The largest clubtail dragonfly in North America, this species aggressively preys on other species of dragonflies.
Wandering Glider	Pantala flavescens	None.	Seen several times in June and August, 2002 around the YMCA parking lot.	Accomplished fliers even compared to most other dragonfly species, Wandering Glider occurs in all continents except Antarctica, and is occasionally seen far out to sea.
Eastern Pondhawk	Erythemis simplicicollis	None.	Seen in 2008 at Crystal, Birchwood, and Sunset Lakes; probably present in most other lakes and ponds in the borough.	One of the most common and widespread of the eastern dragonflies.
Blue Dasher	Pachydiplax longipennis	None.	Found at Crystal and Birchwood Lakes in 2008.
Calico Pennant	Celithemis elisa	None.	Probable; seen around the Tourne in past years.
Halloween Pennant	Celithemis eponina	None.	Probable; frequently seen in surrounding towns around ponds and lakes.
White Corporal	Libellula exusa	None.	Seen at Mountain Lake in 2008. A common species which probably occurs at other lakes and ponds in the borough.
Twelve-spotted Skimmer	Libellula pulchella	None.	Seen at Mountain, Crystal, and Birchwood Lakes in 2008.

VERTEBRATES

Fish

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Bowfin	Amia calva	None.	This ancient, primitive species of fish has been introduced into some New Jersey waters. One was caught in Wildwood Lake in the 1990s.
Rainbow Trout	Oncorhynchus mykiss	None.	Stocked in Birchwood Lake.
Brown Trout	Salmo trutta	None.	Stocked in Birchwood Lake.
Brook Trout	Salvelinus fontinalis	None for stocked fish. Wild brook trout are ranked S3, rare, by the New Jersey Natural Heritage Program.	Several small wild brook trout were netted in the upper Troy Brook, near Intervale Road, in 1983.
Chain Pickerel	Esox niger	None.	Present in Wildwood Lake, and probably present in other lakes and ponds in the borough.
Common Carp	Cyprinus carpio	None.	Probable. Common in most ponds and lakes in the surrounding area.
Yellow Perch	Perca flavescens	None.	Probably present in all the lakes and larger ponds.
Black Crappie	Pomoxis nigromaculatus	None.	Fairly common in the local lakes.
Rock Bass	Amblopites rupestris	None.	Probable. Present in Cedar Lake and other lakes and ponds in the area.
Pumpkinseed	Leposis gibbosus	None.	Probable. Present in numerous ponds and lakes in the surrounding area.
Smallmouth Bass	Micropterus dolomieu	None.	Possible. Present in similar lake habitat in the surrounding area.
Largemouth Bass	Micropterus salmoides	None.	Has been caught in Wildwood Lake; probably present in other lakes in the borough.
Brown Bullhead	Amerius nebulosus	None.	Common in the larger lakes.
Golden Shiner	Notemigonus crysoleucas	None.	Probably common in all the lakes and ponds of the town.
Bluegill	Lepomis macrochirus	None.	Probably common in all the lakes and ponds of the borough.
Common Shiner	Luxilis cornutus	None.	Probably common in all the lakes and ponds of the town.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Turtles

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Common Snapping Turtle	Chelydra serpentina	None.	Seen in recent years in most of the borough's ponds and lakes, including Birchwood, Crystal, Sunset, Wildwood, and Mountain. Road-killed Snapping Turtles have been found a number of times along the Boulevard.	Females are sometimes seen crossing roads in spring and summer, where they are occasionally hit by vehicles.
Common Musk Turtle; Stinkpot.	Sternotherus odoratus.	None.	A road-killed individual was found on the Boulevard near Borough Hall in 1993; has been caught in Birchwood and Wildwood Lakes.	Confirmed to be present in Denville and Parsippany in 2002.
Spotted Turtle	Clemmys guttata	None.	Seen basking with Painted Turtles at the north end of Birchwood Lake in 2007. Possible in all the ponds and lakes of the borough.	Many herpetologists think the once-common Spotted Turtle has sharply declined throughout its range In New Jersey over the last thirty years.
Wood Turtle	Clemmys insculpta	Threatened.	Possible.	No breeding habitat is present in the borough, but an extant population exists in the Rockaway River in Denville and Boonton Townships, and a road-killed female (ca. 30 years old) was found along the intersection of Pocono Road and Old Boonton Road near the Rockaway River Country Club, a few hundred feet from the Mountain Lakes boundary. Wood Turtles can wander up to a half-mile or more from their breeding areas in streams and rivers. See photo of wood turtle in appendix.
Eastern Box Turtle	Terrapine carolina carolina	None.	Road-killed individuals were found on West Shore Drive in 1987 and 2003.	Thought to be greatly declining throughout its range in New Jersey.
Eastern Painted Turtle	Chrysemys picta picta	None.	Seen basking in Birchwood, Crystal, Sunset, Mountain, and Wildwood Lakes in 2007 and 2008.	The most common species of turtle in New Jersey.

Lizards

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Five-lined Skink	Eumeces fasciatus	None.	Possible.	Occurs in wooded habitat in The Tourne in Boonton and Denville Townships. Richard Wilcox Park is immediately adjacent to this area, and has similar habitats. Probably not present in other areas of town.

Snakes

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Northern Water Snake	Nerodia sipedon sipedon	None.	Seen in recent years in Birchwood and Crystal Lakes..	Though non-poisonous, this is an aggressive snake when threatened, and it will bite tenaciously; and bites can quickly become infected. Best admired from a distance.
Northern Brown Snake; DeKay's Snake	Storeria dekayi dekayi	None.	Several Northern Brown Snakes have been found over the years in wooded areas near Borough Hall and Richard Wilcox Park.	A small, shy species well-adapted to wooded areas and yards in older suburban areas.
Northern Redbelly Snake	Storeria occipitomaculata accipitomaculata	None.	Possible. Occurs in nearby areas in Denville, Boonton Township, and Parsippany.	Quite small, shy, and rarely seen.
Eastern Garter Snake	Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis	None.	Individuals have been caught on Glen Road and at the Community Church.	A common species statewide, in a wide variety of habitats including fragmented woods, disturbed areas, and suburban yards.
Eastern Worm Snake	Carphophis amoenus amoenus	None.	Possible/probable. Known to occur in t Tourne park in Denville and Boonton Townships.	A small snake that "looks very much like a large earthworm.".
Northern Ringneck Snake	Diadophis punctatus edwardsii	None.	Known to occur in a yard along the eastern edge of Wilcox Park on Crestview Road.	A woodland species that possibly occurs in other areas of the borough.
Northern Black Racer	Coluber constrictor constrictor	None.	Possible/probable. Known to occur in the Tourne.	From a distance resembles Northern Water Snake, but is not found in water.
Smooth Green Snake	Opheodrys vernalis	None.	Seen in 2006 along the southern edge of the parking lot at the YMCA. Probably present in other places in the borough where there is un-mowed grassy habitats.	Bright green, but not as arboreal as Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus ).
Black Rat Snake	Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta	None.	A small Black Rat Snake was found dead in the rear parking lot of the YMCA in 1997. Of possible occurrence in Wilcox Park, but probably not elsewhere in the borough.	Resembles Black Racer from a distance, but can be much larger; also moves much more slowly.
Northern Copperhead	Agisktrodon contortix mokasen	None; Heritage Program G4, undetermined.	Possible. Occurs at several sites in Denville Township, in or near rocky wooded areas, as well as in the Tourne. Similar suitable habitat is only present in Wilcox Park.	Poisonous, but usually quite shy, and prefers to flee rather than confront threats.

Amphibians -- Salamanders

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Marbled Salamander	Ambystoma opacum	Heritage Program rank S3, rare, declining.	Found once, in 1989 under rotting logs near a dry vernal pool in what is now Halsey Frederick Park; also found in the Yorke Road woodlands in the 1980s Possible in wooded areas throughout the borough where there are vernal ponds.	Unlike the other salamanders in the area, Marbled Salamander breeds in the fall. A vernal pond-dependent species.
Jefferson Salamander	Ambystoma jeffersonianum	Heritage Program rank S3; rare, declining.	Present in the Yorke Road woodlands; several were found in the spring of 2004 in a vernal pond complex adjacent to St. Catherine's Church on Pocono Road. Possible in other wooded areas of the borough where there are vernal ponds.	A vernal pond-dependent species.
Spotted Salamander	Ambystoma maculatum	Heritage Program Rank S3, rare, declining.	Found in 2007 in and near several vernal ponds in Wilcox Park; seen in the 1980s around vernal ponds in the Yorke Road woodlands. Possible in other wooded areas of the borough where vernal ponds are present.	A vernal pond-dependent species.
Blue-spotted Salamander complex (includes hybrids with A. Jeffersonianum)	Ambystoma laterale, A. x tremblayi, A. x platineum.	Endangered; Heritage Program rank S1.	Three Blue-spotted Salamanders, and egg masses, were found in 1988 in a vernal pond along Pocono Road near the intersection with Crane Road; several were seen in vernal ponds in the Yorke Road woodlands in the 1980s	Probably still present at these sites, and possible in wooded areas of the borough with vernal pools. A vernal pond-dependent species.
Red-spotted Newt	Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens	None.	Possible. The terrestrial form of Red-spotted Newt (an aquatic species), the red eft, has been found in the nearby Tourne County Park, and probably also occurs in Wilcox Park. Possible elsewhere in wooded spots in other areas of the borough.	The red eft, which is actually a brilliant Day-Glo orange, has several neurotoxins in its skin, and should not be handled without gloves.
Northern Dusky Salamander	Desmognathus fuscus fuscus	None.	Possible. Present in the stream at The Tourne (a tributary of the Rockaway River), which originates in Wilcox Park. Also occurs in Troy Brook in Parsippany, which originates in the borough near the intersection of Intervale Road and Route 46, at the southeast corner of the borough.	Usually only found in or near small streams.
Redback Salamander	Plethodon cinereus	None.	Seen in the borough in October, 2008, in Troy Brook near Intervale Road. Probably present in other wooded tracts throughout.	Usually the most common species of salamander in northern New Jersey. A dark gray form of Redback is called ?leadback? salamander.
Northern Slimy Salamander	Plethodon glutinosus	None.	A few individuals of Slimy Salamander were found in 2007 on wooded slopes in Wilcox Park. Because this species prefers sloping habitat such as wooded ravines and hillsides, it is probably not present elsewhere in the borough.	Slimy Salamander gets its name from the gluey, sticky substance secreted from its skin; difficult to remove from skin.
Four-toed Salamander	Hemidactylium scutatum	Heritage Program S3, rare, declining.	Found along the edge of a red maple swamp in Halsey Frederick Park in 2007	An elusive species which usually occurs in and near growths of Sphagnum moss in bogs and other wetlands.
Northern Red Salamander	Pseudotrion ruber ruber	None.	Found in 2007 in the springbox at the border of Wilcox Park and the Tourne	Possible in Troy Brook at the southeast end of the borough.
Northern Two-lined Salamander	Eurycea bislineata	None.	Six individuals were seen in early December, 2008 in Troy Brook along Intervale Road, at the southeast corner of the borough.	The most common stream salamander in New Jersey, and possible throughout the borough in rocky flowing water.

Amphibians -- Toads and Frogs

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
American Toad	Bufo americanus	None.	Heard calling in spring in back of the YMCA near Halsey Frederick Park and at the north end of Birchwood Lake. A common backyard species which is probably present throughout the borough.	Sometimes breeds in vernal ponds, but also in ditches, stream edges, ponds, back yards, and water-filled old tires and other debris.
Fowler's Toad	Bufo woodhousii	None.	Heard calling from a wooded area in Halsey Frederick Park along Morris Avenue in 1998. Possible in other areas of the Mountain Lakes; breeds in similar habitats as American Toad.	The common toad in south Jersey, where American Toad is absent. A Coastal Plain species which is rare in New Jersey north of southern Monmouth, Middlesex, and Mercer Counties, and is unusual in Mountain Lakes.
Northern Cricket Frog	Acris crepitans crepitans	Heritage Program rank S3, rare.	Several were heard calling in May, 2008 near Crystal Lake. Possible in other areas of the town.	Thought to have greatly declined in recent decades.
Northern Gray Treefrog	Hyla versicolor	None.	Possible. Occurs in The Tourne County Park in Denville and Boonton Townships. Most likely to be found in Wilcox and Halsey Frederick Parks.	Breeds in vernal pools, and pond and swamp edges.
Northern Spring Peeper	Pseudacris crucifer crucifer	None.	Heard calling in late November, 2008 near Sherwood Drive in the southeastern corner of the borough. Probable in wooded areas throughout the town.	New Jersey's most abundant treefrog, and a familiar sound of early spring; though peeper will call in fall and even winter on days when the temperature rises above 45 F.
Upland Chorus Frog, New Jersey Chorus Frog	Pseudacris triseriata ferarium; P. triseriata kalmi	Subspecies ferarium Heritage Program rank S?; kalmi S?	Both species/subspecies were found in Halsey Frederick Park in 1989. Possible in other areas of town.	The taxonomy of these treefrogs is not firm, and distribution of both subspecies of Western Chorus Frog (P. triseriata) in this area is not well known.
Bullfrog	Rana catesbiana	None.	Heard calling from Sunset and Crystal Lakes in 2008, and possible in any of the town's lakes and ponds.	Appears to be declining in northern New Jersey.
Green Frog	Rana clamitans melanota	None.	Heard calling from northern end of Birchwood Lake in 2008. Probable in most lakes and ponds in the borough.	The most common frog in the Northeast.
Wood Frog	Rana sylvatica	None.	Heard calling from vernal ponds in Wilcox Park and an area adjacent to Saint Catherine's Church along the south side of Pocono Road. Many were present around vernal pools in the Yorke Road woodlands in the 1980s. Possible in any wooded area of the town with vernal pools, and may wander onto uplands during the spring and summer.	A vernal pond-dependent (obligate) species.
Southern Leopard Frog	Rana utricularia	None.	Possible. Occurs in Troy Meadows in Parsippany, and in lower Troy Brook, which drains into the marsh.
Pickerel Frog	Rana palustris	None.	Possible. Found in Denville, Boonton Township, and Parsippany.	Occurs with the previous species in Troy Meadows and along the Rockaway River in Denville.

Birds

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	None.	Common as a breeding and permanent resident.
Snow Goose	Chen caerulenscens	None.	Uncommon fall migrant in flocks overhead; injured individuals have been seen occasionally over the years with Canada Geese.
Brant	Branta bernica	None.	Rare. Seen once in the fall of 2006 on Mountain Lake.	An Arctic species which winters along the N.J. coast; rarely seen on inland lakes.
Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	None.	Present on lakes throughout the borough. Has bred in the past.	Not a native species; aggressive and can become a nuisance.
Wood Duck	Aix sponsa	None.	Uncommon transient and breeding species.	Usually nests in tree cavities away from the water.
American Wigeon	Anas americana	None.	Fairly common late fall and spring migrant.
Eurasian Wigeon	Anas penelope	None.	Very rare. A drake was observed on Mountain Lake from October 29 to November 8, 1977.
Gadwall	Anas strepera	None.	Fairly common spring and fall migrant; winter resident when there is open water.
American Black Duck	Anas rubripes	None.	Common spring and fall migrant; winter resident when there is open water. Possible breeder.	Hybridizes with Mallard and other Anas species.
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	None.	Common year-round resident and migrant.	Often interbreeds with Black Duck.
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant; rare in winter.
Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors	None.	Rare spring and fall migrant. Seen on Mountain and Wildwood Lakes.	Sometimes found with the more common Green-winged Teal.
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant; occasional in winter.	Has increased in recent decades.
Green-winged Teal	Anas caroliniensis	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant; occasional in winter.
Canvasback	Athyya valisineria	None.	Uncommon to rare fall and spring migrant; rare in winter.	A declining species.
Redhead	Aythya americana	None.	Rare fall and spring migrant.	Traditionally rarer than Canvasback, Redhead numbers have been increasing in the last few years.
Ring-necked Duck	Athya collaris	None.	Common spring and fall migrant; occasional in winter.
Lesser Scaup	Athya affinis	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant. Seen on Wildwood Lake on 11/22/91.
Greater Scaup	Athya marila	None.	Uncommon to rare spring and fall migrant.
Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	None.	Rare spring and fall migrant. Seen on Wildwood Lake 11/22/91.
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	None.	Common spring and fall migrant; fairly common in winter when there is open water.
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	None.	Fairly common spring and fall migrant; uncommon in winter when there is open water on the deeper lakes.
Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	None.	Common fall and spring migrant; fairly common on ponds and lakes when there is open water. Possible breeder at Lake Arrowhead in Denville.	Nests in trees, and has increased as a breeding species (though still rare) in the northern part of the state.
Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	None.	Rare fall migrant.	Seldom occurs on inland lakes during migration.
Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	None.	Common spring and fall migrant; occasional to fairly common in winter when there is open water.
Ring-necked Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	None.	Seen once along the railroad tracks near the station.
Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	None.	Has become a common breeding species in the larger wooded tracts of the borough since the late 1980s. Also forages commonly in nearby yards and under bird feeders.	Extirpated by the end of the nineteenth century in New Jersey, Wild Turkeys were reintroduced in the Sussex County beginning in the late 1960s. The birds have since spread unassisted throughout the state, including urban areas with some parkland, and in the suburbs.
Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus	None.	Extirpated. Last seen in Wilcox Park on 6/03/95.	Also formerly occurred in adjacent Boonton Township, Denville, and Parsippany. Ruffed Grouse is becoming one of the rarer breeding species in the state, and it is absent over most if its former range. Grouse prefer forested areas with a varied dense understory of tree saplings and shrubs, and it is thought that overbrowsing by deer have eliminated this habitat in many areas of the state.
Northern Bobwhite	Colinus virginianus	None.	A probable released bird was seen in a town park.
Red-throated Loon.	Gavia stellata	None.	Rare late fall migrant on Mountain Lake.
Common Loon	Gavia immer	None.	Uncommon to rare fall migrant in the larger lakes.
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Endangered as a breeder.	Occasional fall and spring migrant; rare in winter.	There is no suitable breeding habitat for this species in the borough.
Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus	None.	Rare fall migrant, uncommon spring migrant on the larger lakes.
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalocrorax auritus	None.	Has become fairly common in the borough's lakes and ponds year-round, except in winter when there is no open water.	Has bred in nearby Boonton Reservoir and other area lakes, and has greatly increased in numbers in the last twenty years.
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	No longer listed as a threatened breeding species; Heritage Program rank S2B.	Fairly common year-round; less so in severe winters when the Rockaway River freezes. The nearest breeding colony is in Troy Meadows in Parsippany and Whippany.
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea	Heritage Program rank S2B (rare breeding species).	Immature (white) Little Blue Herons have been seen several times in August and early September at Birchwood Lake.	Breeds in heronries in south coastal New Jersey.
Great Egret	Ardea alba	None.	Uncommon in summer and early fall around ponds and lakes.	Breeds in south coastal New Jersey.
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	None.	Rare in late summer; seen at Birchwood Lake, and also Wildwood Lake.	Breeds in south coastal New Jersey.
Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Threatened.	Rare in spring and summer around Birchwood Lake.	Breeds in colonies along the coast and in the Hackensack Meadows.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron	Nyctanassa violacea	Threatened	Rare. Seen once at Crystal Lake.	Breeds in south coastal N.J. and at few colonies in Bergen County and the Hackensack Meadows.
Green Heron	Butoides virescens	None.	Uncommon in late spring and summer. Possible breeder.
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	None.	Common in spring, summer, and fall; uncommon in winter.	Does not breed in the borough.
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus	None.	Uncommon in spring, summer, and fall; rare in winter.	Known to breed in rocky areas in Boonton Township and Parsippany; not in Mountain Lakes.
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalis	Endangered; Heritage Program rank S1B, S2N.	Uncommon to rare, year-round.	One of the great endangered species success stories, the Bald Eagle, once down to one non-breeding pair in New Jersey, now is breeding statewide. Most recently found nesting in Troy Meadows, in Parsippany.
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus	Endangered as a breeding species. Heritage Program Rank S1B.	Uncommon migrant in spring and fall.
Golden Eagle.	Aquila chrysaetos	None.	Very rare. Seen flying over the Boulevard in December, 2007.
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Threatened; Heritage Program rank S2B.	Uncommon in spring and fall migration, when it occasionally remains to fish for several days in the larger lakes. Rare in summer.	Slowly increasing as a breeding species in northern New Jersey.
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	Heritage Program ran S2B.	Fairly common migrant in spring and fall; uncommon in winter.
Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	Threatened; Heritage Program rank S3B.	Fairly common migrant in spring and fall; uncommon in winter; uncommon breeding species	Cooper's Hawk has recovered in numbers since its decline in the 1970s and early 1980s. It has become adapted to suburban situations, and is now the second most common breeding hawk species in the state.
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	Endangered; Heritage Program rank S1B.	Rare in fall migration; rare in winter. Recently seen near Yorke Road off Intervale	This species has nested in nearby Rockaway Township in recent years.
Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Endangered; Heritage Program rank S1B.	Uncommon fall migrant; rare in winter and spring.	Some suitable nesting habitat is present in Wilcox Park near the Tourne.
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus	Heritage Program rank S3B.	Uncommon fall migrant; occasionally more numerous. Suitable breeding habitat is present in the three larger wooded tracts present in the town.
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	None.	Fairly common breeding; a locally transient or migrant species in all seasons.	The most common and familiar hawk species in the East.
American Kestrel	Falco sparvensis	None.	Uncommon fall migrant; usually absent other seasons.	This small falcon has suffered a large decline in numbers in recent decades.
Merlin	Falco columbarius	None.	Uncommon to rare in fall migration; absent other seasons.
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	Endangered; Heritage Program rank S1B.	Rare fall migrant and winter transient; recently reported at the intersection of Yorke and Intervale Roads.
American Coot	Fulica americana	Heritage Program rank S1B.	Uncommon fall and spring migrant.
Killdeer	Charadrius wilsonia	None.	Occasional in large parking lots and athletic fields during fall and spring migration.
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant on lake and pond shores.
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	None.	Uncommon to rare spring and fall migrant on lake and pond shores.
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant on pond and lake shores.
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	None.	Uncommon migrant in spring and fall on muddy pond and lake shores.
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius	Heritage Program rank S3B.	Uncommon in spring and fall on pond and lake shores.	There is no suitable breeding habitat for this species in the borough.
American Woodcock	Scolopax minor	None.	Seen occasionally during spring and fall migration in Wilcox Park. Possible nesting species. Seen on Ball Road 09/15/05.	Suitable breeding and display habitat for American Woodcock is present nearby in the fields to the south of Saint Clair's Hospital in Denville.
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	None.	Occasional in fall, winter, and spring on area lakes and parking lots.
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	None.	Fairly common on area lakes in early spring, fall, and winter. Usually absent in summer.
Iceland Gull	Larus glaucoides	None.	Rare; seen once on Birchwood Lake in January, 1987.
Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	None.	Uncommon to rare in fall, winter, and spring on area lakes.
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	None.	Rare; seen once on Mountain Lake in December, 2002.
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	None.	Common breeding species and year-round resident.
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	None.	Fairly common year-round resident.
Monk Parakeet	Myiopsitta monachus	None.	Seen once on Ball Road, 11/07/05.	A native of Argentina, Monk Parakeet can cope with northern winters, and it has become established in certain areas of the U.S.; there are small colonies of this species in Edgewater, Bergen County.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.	May occasionally breed in the borough.
Black-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.	Possible breeding species.
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	None.	Uncommon year-round resident; confirmed nesting in the borough.
Barred Owl	Strix varia	Threatened; Heritage Program Rank S2.	Heard at Wilcox Park during the fall 2008 survey. Seen in Wilcox Park 04/25/08, and heard once on Ball Road 04/24/05.
Eastern Screech Owl	Megascops asio	None.	Uncommon year-round resident of the borough.
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Aegolius funereus	Heritage Program rank S3B.	Rare late fall and winter visitor. Seen in Wilcox park in 1998. A dead Saw-whet Owl was found along the Boulevard in late fall, 1986.
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	Heritage Program rank S3B.	Uncommon late summer migrant; rare spring migrant.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant. Possible breeder in the borough.
Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant; probably a breeding species in the borough.
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon	None.	Uncommon spring, summer, and fall around lakes and ponds; rare in winter. Breeds adjacent to the borough along the Rockaway River in Denville and Boonton Township.
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	None.	Common year-round breeding resident.
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	None.	Fairly common in spring, summer, and fall; uncommon in winter.	Breeds in the borough.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus thyroideus	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant; uncommon to rare in winter.
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus	None.	Uncommon year-round resident and breeding species.	A larger version of the much more common Downy Woodpecker, below.
Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens	None.	Common breeding species and year-round resident.
Pileated Woodpecker	Drycopus pileatus	None.	Rare to uncommon year-round resident in Wilcox Park and in woods at Tower Hill.
Eastern Wood Pewee	Contopus virens	None.	Fairly common spring and fall migrant; uncommon breeding species at Wilcox Park and in woods near Intervale Road.
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	None.	Uncommon spring migrant.
Empidonax flycatcher species	Empidonax spp.	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrants.	When not calling, this group -- which includes Least, Willow, Alder, and Acadian Flycatchers -- is usually difficult to identify by species.
Acadian Flycatcher	Empidonax virescens	None.	Seen and heard in Wilcox Park on 05/27/01 and 06/08/07.
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	None.	Seen throughout the borough.
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe	None.	Uncommon spring, summer, and fall resident.
Great Crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus crinitus	None.	Uncommon breeding species present in late spring and summer.	Present in Wilcox and Halsey Frederick Parks.
Eastern Kingbird	Tyrranus tyrranus	None.	Uncommon breeding species in late spring and summer.
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius	S3B	Fairly common in spring and fall migration. Breeds in nearby Rockaway Township.	Formerly called Solitary Vireo.
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus	None.	Fairly common spring and summer breeding species in Wilcox and Halsey Frederick Parks, and in woods near Tower Hill.
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus	None.	A common spring and summer breeding species around lakes and ponds; uncommon migrant.
Philadelphia Vireo	Vireo philadelphicus	None.	Rare early September migrant along woodland edges. Seen several times in the 1990s around the YMCA.
Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	None.	Common year-round breeding resident and fall migrant throughout the borough.
Common Raven	Corvus corax	None.	Rare, but increasing. Seen occasionally in Wilcox Park and around Birchwood Lake. Seen once in Wilcox Park.	Now breeds in nearby Rockaway and Boonton Townships.
American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	None.	Common year-round resident and breeding species.
Fish Crow	Corvus ossifragus	None.	Uncommon around the borough's lakes, year-round, and particularly in areas near the Rockaway River.
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	None.	Seen once at the high school on 11/13/92.
Purple Martin	Progne subis	None.	Seen once at Island Beach.
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	None.	Fairly common spring and summer visitor to area lakes.
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	None.	Uncommon spring and summer transient.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis	None.	Fairly common in spring and summer over area lakes; possible breeding species.
Cliff Swallow	Pterocheilidon pyrrhonata	None.	Uncommon migrant throughout.
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	None.	Fairly common spring and summer resident around area lakes and fields; probable breeder.
Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	None.	Common year-round resident.
Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	None.	Common year-round resident.
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta caroliniensis	None.	Common year-round resident.
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	None.	Uncommon fall and winter visitor; rare migrant in spring.
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant; uncommon winter resident.
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	None.	Common breeding species in spring and summer. Very rare in winter.
Winter Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	None.	Rare migrant; uncommon in winter. Seen at Glen Road on 10/05/92, and Ball Road on 10/11/00 and 04/07/08.
Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	None.	Fairly common year-round resident.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	None.	Common migrant in October and April; uncommon in late fall and winter.
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	None.	Common spring and fall migrant; uncommon in winter.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea	None.	Rare breeder in spring and summer; possible breeding species in Wilcox and Halsey Frederick Parks.
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	None.	Rare to uncommon, year-round. Seen at Harley Frederick Park.
Veery	Catharus fuscescens	None.	Uncommon breeding species in the larger wooded tracts of the borough.
Gray-cheeked Thrush	Catharus minimus	None.	Rare migrant. Seen on Ball Road on 05/21/96 and 05/29/03.
Bicknell's Thrush	Catharus bicknellii	None.	Rare migrant; seen on Ball Road.
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	None.	Fairly common migrant in spring and fall; uncommon winter resident.
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	None.	Uncommon breeder in the larger wooded tracts.
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	None.	Very common breeding and migrant species in spring, summer, and fall. Uncommon most winters.
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	None.	Common breeding species in spring, summer, and fall; rare in winter.
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	None.	Common year-round resident.
Brown Thrasher	Toxostoma longirostre	None.	Rare in spring, summer, and early fall; possible breeder. Seen at Halsey Frederick Park.
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	None.	Very common year-round resident and breeding species.
American Pipit	Anthus rubescens	None.	Seen at the high school on 10/28/06.
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	None.	Uncommon year-round; possible breeding species in summer.
Blue-winged Warbler	Vermivora pinus	None.	Rare spring and fall migrant.
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina	None.	Rare spring and fall migrant.
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla	Heritage Program rank S1B.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Northern Parula	Parula americana	Heritage Program rank S3B.	Uncommon to common spring migrant; uncommon fall migrant.
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia	None.	Common spring and late summer migrant; uncommon nesting species in the borough.
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pennsylvanica	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Magnolia Warbler	Dendroica magnolia	Heritage Program rank S1B.	Fairly common spring and fall migrant.
Cape May Warbler	Dendroica tigrina	None.	Rare spring and fall migrant.
Black-throated Blue Warbler	Dendroica caerulescens	Heritage Program rank S?B	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata	None.	Common spring and fall migrant; uncommon in winter.
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens	None.	Fairly common spring and fall migrant.
Blackburnian Warbler	Dendroica fusca	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Pine Warbler	Dendroica pinus	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Prairie Warbler	Dendroica discolor	None.	Uncommon-rare spring and fall migrant.
Palm Warbler	Dendroica palmatum	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Yellow-throated Warbler	Dendroica dominica	None.	Very rare spring migrant; seen twice in the YMCA parking lot, in May 1983, and late April 2004.
Bay-breasted Warbler	Dendroica castanea	None.	Rare spring and fall migrant.
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	None.	Fairly common spring and fall migrant; breeds in Wilcox Park.
Blackpoll Warbler	Dendroica striata	None.	Fairly common spring and fall migrant.
Cerulean Warbler	Dendroica cerulea	Heritage Program rank S3B.	Very rare spring migrant; seen twice in late April at Birchwood Lake. Seen on Ball Road on 05/12/00.
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	None.	Common spring and fall migrant.
Worm-eating Warbler	Helmitheros vermivorum	None.	Rare spring migrant. Breeds in Wilcox Park and the adjacent Tourne county park.
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla	None.	Uncommon breeding species in Wilcox and Halsey Frederick Parks, and in woods around Tower Hill.
Louisiana Waterthrush	Seiurus motacilla	None.	Rare spring and July migrant; has bred in past years along Troy Brook near Intervale Road. Seen in Wilcox Park.
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis	None.	Uncommon spring migrant; rare fall migrant.
Mourning Warbler	Oporonis philadelphica	None.	Rare migrant; seen on Ball Road.
Common Yellowthroat	Geothylpis trichas	None.	Fairly common breeding species in spring, summer, and early fall; rare in winter.
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	None.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Canada Warbler	Wilsonia canadensis	Heritage Program rank S3B.	Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
Hooded Warbler	Wilsonia citrina	None.	Rare spring and fall migrant. Probable breeder; seen in Wilcox Park.
Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea	None.	Uncommon spring and summer breeding species in wooded tracts.
Eastern Towhee	Pipilo erythrophthalmus	None.	Bred in Halsey Frederick Park in 2008. Uncommon spring, summer, and early fall resident; rare in winter.
American Tree Sparrow	Spizella arborea	None.	Uncommon late fall and winter resident.
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina	None.	Fairly common breeding species in spring and summer; uncommon fall migrant; rare in winter.
Field Sparrow	Spizella pusilla	None.	Rare spring and summer resident; probable breeder. Seen at old Fuzee property on 05/04/08.
Swamp Sparrow	Melospiza georgiana	None.	Uncommon fall migrant and winter resident; may breed in the small red maple swamp in Halsey Frederick Park.
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca	None.	Uncommon early spring and fall migrant; rare in winter.
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	None.	Common year-round resident and breeding species.
White-throated Sparrow	Zenotrichia albicollis	None.	Common fall and spring migrant; common winter resident.
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	None.	Rare spring and fall migrant.
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	Heritage Program S1B.	Common spring and fall migrant and winter resident.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	None.	Has bred in Halsey A. Frederick and Wilcox Parks. Common spring and uncommon fall migrant.
Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	None.	Common year-round resident and breeding species.
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea	None.	Fairly common spring and fall migrant; possible breeding species at Wilcox Park and Birchwood Lake.
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	None.	Common in spring, summer, and fall; possible breeding species.
Bobolink	Doichonyx oryzivorus	Threatened as a breeding species; Heritage Program Rank S2.	Rare migrant. Seen at the high school on 8/31/08.
Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna	None.	Rare migrant. Seen at the high school on 06/29/08.
Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula	None.	Common breeding species in spring and summer; very common migrant in fall; uncommon most winters.
Rusty Blackbird	Euphagus carolinus	None.	Rare migrant spring and fall; rare in winter. Seen at the high school on 03/18/07.
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	None.	Breeding species. Common in spring, summer, and fall; uncommon in winter.	The only nest-parasite in the U.S. Lays its eggs in the nests of other species such as warblers, robins and other thrushes, orioles, vireos, etc.
Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius	None.	Bred on Briarcliff Road in 1993. Rare migrant in spring and late summer.
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	None.	A fairly common breeder along streets and areas with mature trees. Uncommon spring and fall migrant.
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus	None.	Breeding species; common year-round.	A Western U.S. finch accidentally introduced into the East in the 1960s.
Purple Finch	Carpodacus purpureus	None.	Uncommon migrant in spring and fall; sporadically rare to uncommon in winter.
Common Redpoll	Carduelis tristis	None.	Rare winter visitor. Seen on Glen Road on 01/06/94.
Pine Siskin	Carduelis lawrencei	Heritage Program rank SPB.	Uncommon to rare in fall and winter.
American Goldfinch	Carduelis tristis	The N.J. State Bird. No other listings.	Breeding species; common year-round.
Evening Grosbeak	Cocothruaustes vespertinus	None.	Rare. A few birds were seen flying over Wilcox Park on December 19, 2008.
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	None.	Breeding species and common year-round resident.	A European species introduced to the eastern U.S. in the mid-nineteenth century.

Mammals

With the exception of large mammals such as whitetail deer and black bear, and diurnal small animals as gray squirrel, eastern chipmunk, and eastern cottontail, most mammal species are nocturnal, shy, seldom seen, and sometimes difficult to identify even when found. Most mammals are best detected by signs such as tracks, spoor, and evidence of feeding activity, or by live-trapping.

Data about bats was compiled from informal surveys conducted by the writer with a bat detector and some limited netting, done in and around the Tourne county park; and from more formal surveys done by the state and other organizations at the bat hibernaculum located in an old iron mine located in nearby Hibernia, Rockaway Township; and in Picatinny Arsenal, also in Rockaway Township. The Hibernia site is New Jersey's largest bat overwintering habitat, with up to 30,000 bats of six species recorded in some years in the abandoned mine shafts. Because of the animals' mobility, it is thought that any of the nine species of regularly- or rarely-occurring bat species in New Jersey may occur in Mountain Lakes Borough.

Species	Scientific Name	State Status	Status in Mountain Lakes	Comments
Opossum	Didelphis marsupialis	None.	Probably present throughout the borough, as opossum is well-adapted to suburbia. Road-killed individuals are found occasionally on the Boulevard and on Route 46.	The only marsupial species in North America north of Mexico.
Masked Shrew	Sorex cinerereus	None.	Possible; within the species' documented range in the state. It may occur in larger tracts such as Wilcox and Halsey Frederick Parks, and the Yorke Road and Tower hill woodlands. The most likely site is the red maple swamp and marsh along the western edge Morris Avenue in Halsey Frederick Park, as the species prefers wetland habitats.
Short-tailed Shrew	Blarina brevicauda	None.	A dead short-tailed shrew was found in the parking area of Birchwood Lake in 2007. This species is possible in wet areas around the borough's lakes and ponds and in wetland areas of Wilcox and Halsey Frederick Parks and in the Yorke Road and Tower Hill woodlands
Eastern Mole	Scalopus aquaticus	None.	Occasionally found as road kills along the Boulevard. Probably common throughout the borough, in scrubby habitats, lawns and athletic fields.
Little Brown Myotis, Little Brown Bat	Myotis lucifugus	None.	Possible/probable. Occurs in the Hibernia bat hibernaculum.
Indiana Bat	Myotis sodalis	Endangered; Federal endangered species; Heritage Program rank S1.	Of possible occurrence because it overwinters in the Hibernia and Picatinny hibernacula.	In small colonies, usually spends the daytime hours during spring, summer, and early fall in trees in wooded areas.
Northern Long-eared Myotis	Myotis septentrionalis	None.	Possible; occurs in the Hibernia hibernaculum.
Small-footed Myotis	Myotis leibii	None.	Possible; occurs in the Hibernia hibernaculum.
Silver-haired Bat	Lasionycteris noctivagans	None. Heritage Program rank SU	A migratory species in northern New Jersey.
Eastern Pipistrel	Pipistrellus subflavus	Heritage Program rank SU.	Possible; occurs in the Hibernia site.
Big Brown Bat	Eptisicus fuscus	None.	Probable; occurs at the Tourne and in Rockaway. A common species.
Red Bat	Lasiurus borealis	None.	Found occasionally in woods in spring, roosting upside down from small branches, when it can be quite tame.	A highly migratory species.
Hoary Bat	Lasisurus cinereus	Heritage Program Rank SU.	Possible; a rare migratory species.
Eastern Cottontail	Sylvilagus floridanus	None.	Common in open areas and yards throughout the borough.
Eastern Chipmunk	Tamias striatus	None.	Common in woods and yards throughout the borough.
Woodchuck	Marmota momax	None.	Fairly common on wood edges, fields, and yards.
Red Squirrel	Tamiasciurus hudsonicus	None.	Seen in Wilcox Park in spring 2008.	Prefers conifers, and probably only a transient where it was seen.
Gray Squirrel	Sciurus carolinensis	None.	Common throughout.
Southern Flying Squirrel	Claucomys volans	None.	Seen periodically in the 1980s and early 1990s at dusk around the YMCA parking lot; possible in others areas of the town near wooded areas.	Probably more common than thought to be; crepuscular and not often seen.
Beaver	Castor canadensis	None.	Currently found in Wilcox Park and the adjacent Tourne.	See discussion above, in Results.
White-footed Mouse	Peromyscus leucopus	None.	Has been found in the borough.
Meadow Vole, Woodland Vole	Microtus pennsylvanicus; M. pinetorium	None.	Has been caught in the borough.
Muskrat	Odantra zibethicus	None.	Has been seen in the borough.
Norway Rat	Rattus norvegicus	None.	Probably widespread. Seen crossing the Boulevard in early morning several times in recent years.
House Mouse	Mus domesticus	None.	Doubtless common throughout the borough.
Porcupine	Erithizon dorsatum	None.	Possible in wooded areas. Seen recently in Rockaway Township and in Denville near the Tourne.
Eastern Coyote	Canis latrans	None.	Rarely encountered, but -- judging from calls, tracks, and scat -- widespread in the town. See discussion above, under Results.
Red Fox	Vulpes vulpes	None.	Seen occasionally in open areas throughout the town.
Gray Fox	Urocyon cinereoargenteus	None.	Reported from the borough, but not verified.	Much less common than Red Fox throughout the state.
Black Bear	Ursus americanus	Heritage Program rank S3.	Not a permanent resident, but wandering black bears of all sexes and ages periodically wander through the town from the north.
Raccoon	Procyon lotor	None.	Probably widespread and fairly common, as indicated by tracks near streams and by road-killed individuals.
Mink	Mustela vison	None.	There is a possible sighting from Wilcox Park along the shore of Birchwood Lake.
Fisher	Martes pennanti	None currently.	An individual of this species was reported around Tower Hill Road.	Fisher has been recently seen in the northern parts of New Jersey, perhaps as a result of the animal's reintroduction in Pennsylvania.
Long-tailed Weasel	Mustela frenata	None.	Possible. Occurs in the nearby Tourne county park, and in Rockaway Township.
River Otter	Lutra canadensis	None.	Occurs in the nearby Rockaway River. Possible at Birchwood, Crystal, and Sunset Lakes, which are near the river. Otter scat was found on the shore of Birchwood Lake in 2007 and late September, 2008.	Otter scat is roughly the size of red fox's, but it is usually found near water and the major component is almost always fish scales and fish bones, and crayfish shells.
Striped Skunk	Mephitis mephitis	None.	Probably fairly common throughout. Nocturnal, and not usually seen, except as a road-kill.
White-tailed Deer	Odocoileus virginianus	None.	Common and widespread in woodlands, fields, and yards.	See discussion above.